Eng. Sherif El Sherbini, Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities, has held a high-level meeting to follow up on the progress of land ownership regularization across areas recently annexed to the boundaries of several new cities, Invest-Gate reports.

The meeting was attended by senior officials from the Ministry, the New Urban Communities Authority (NUCA), and a number of heads of new city authorities. It comes following presidential decrees that transferred the jurisdiction of specific land plots from previous authorities to NUCA, with the goal of incorporating these areas into planned urban expansions.

During the meeting, El Sherbini underscored the importance of accelerating the land regularization process, stressing the need to develop time-bound action plans and practical mechanisms to resolve all pending applications efficiently. He emphasized that the issue should be handled with strict monitoring and firm administrative follow-up to ensure transparency and timely execution.

The Minister reaffirmed that the legal status of both individuals and entities occupying the newly added lands must be resolved in accordance with approved procedures and technical standards. He added that completing this process is essential for unlocking the development potential of these zones and aligning with the state’s directives for comprehensive urban growth, as outlined by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

The session also addressed existing challenges facing the process, presenting proposed solutions and enforcement measures to ensure uninterrupted progress. Heads of city authorities delivered progress reports highlighting the number of requests reviewed, pending applications, and the current status of utility infrastructure including water, wastewater, and road networks—whether completed or under implementation.

El Sherbini concluded by urging continued collaboration among all relevant bodies to finalize the legalization procedures and advance urban development efforts across the newly integrated areas.